Oddly enough, there are a few cemeteries that host book clubs. Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia has Boneyard Bookworms, and Historic Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh, NC has Read in Peace. A book club in a cemetery must have a clever name, and the title of our nascent book club is Tombs and Tomes.

So far, we’ve met three times and discussed three very different books. Stiff, a hilarious book by Mary Roach, dealt with cadavers and the ways in which they have been used in history and in science. Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson, delved into the terrifying mind of serial killer H.H. Holmes in conjunction with the production and creation of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Last night, we discussed Assassination Vacation, Sarah Vowell’s humorous exploration of three presidential assassinations.

The discussions have been lively, due in part to the requisite wine but mostly to the interesting group of people who have gathered every other month in our historic Chapel. And although last night was a little chilly, we warmed up with mulled wine and chowed down on delicious brownies that have now become a mainstay of our meetings. If you’d like more information about our book club, please see our website: http://www.congressionalcemetery.org/tombs-and-tomes or check out the WTOP article about Tombs and Tomes. And if you’re interested in attending a meeting, send any queries to lmaloy@congressionalcemetery.org. Our next meeting is March 19th at 6:30 pm, and we will be discussing Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand. Come chat with us!